9095 research outputs found
Sort by
A Generalised Semantic Cognition Account of Aesthetic Experience
Get PDFGiven that aesthetic experiences typically involve extracting meaning from environment, we believe that semantic cognition research has much to offer the field of neuroaesthetics. In the current paper, we propose a generalised framework that is inspired by the semantic cognition literature and that treats aesthetic experience as just one example of how meaning accumulates. According to our framework, aesthetic experiences are underpinned by the same cognitive and brain systems that are involved in deriving meaning from the environment in general, such as modality-specific conceptual representations and controlled processes for retrieving the appropriate type of information. Our generalised semantic cognition view of aesthetic experience has substantial implications for theory development: it leads to novel, falsifiable predictions and it reconfigures foundational assumptions regarding the structure of the cognitive and brain systems that may be involved in aesthetic experiences
Linking variation in planktonic primary production to coral reef fish growth and condition
Get PDFWithin low-nutrient tropical oceans, islands and atolls with higher primary production support higher fish biomass and reef organism abundance. External energy subsidies can be delivered onto reefs via a range of physical mechanisms. However, the influence of spatial variation in primary production on reef fish growth and condition is largely unknown. It is not yet clear how energy subsidies interact with reef depth and slope. Here we test the hypothesis that with increased proximity to deep-water oceanic nutrient sources, or at sites with shallower reef slopes, parameters of fish growth and condition will be higher. Contrary to expectations, we found no association between fish growth rate and sites with higher mean chlorophyll-a values. There were no differences in fish δ15N or δ13C values between depths. The relationship between fish condition and primary production was influenced by depth, driven by increased fish condition at shallow depths within a primary production ‘hotspot’ site. Carbon δ13C was depleted with increasing primary production, and interacted with reef slope. Our results indicate that variable primary production did not influence growth rates in planktivorous Chromis fieldi within 10–17.5 m depth, but show site-specific variation in reef physical characteristics influencing fish carbon isotopic composition
Effects of Biological and Chemical Degradation on the Properties of Scots Pine—Part II: Wood-Moisture Relations and Viscoelastic Behaviour
Get PDFThe present research aimed to assess the moisture properties and viscoelastic behaviour of artificially degraded pine wood, intended to serve as a model material for ongoing studies on new conservation treatments for waterlogged archaeological wood. Sorption isotherms and hydroxyl accessibility were measured using a Dynamic Vapour Sorption (DVS) system, while the investigation of the selected wood rheological properties was performed using Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA). Fungal decomposition of pine by Coniophora puteana decreased the maximum equilibrium moisture content (EMC) from 20.3% to 17.7% in the first and from 19.9% to 17.1% in the second DVS run compared to undegraded pine, while chemical degradation using 50% NaOH solution increased the wood EMC to 24.6% in the first and 24.2% in the second run. The number of free hydroxyls measured for the biologically degraded sample was similar to sound wood, while chemical degradation reduced their number from 11.3 mmol g-1 to 7.9 mmol g-1. The alterations in the wood chemical composition due to different degradation processes translated into changes in viscoelastic behaviour. For biologically degraded wood, a reduction in the loss modulus and storage modulus at the temperature of 25 °C was observed compared to undegraded pine. Surprisingly, for chemically degraded pine, the values were more similar to sound wood due to the considerable densification of the material resulting from shrinkage during drying. The loss factor values for both degraded wood types were higher than for undegraded ones, indicating an increase in damping properties compared to sound pine. Distinct changes were visible in the storage modulus and loss factor graphs for DMA of chemically and biologically degraded pine. The degradation processes used in the study produced wood types with different moisture and viscoelastic properties. However, both seem useful as model materials in the research on the new conservation agents for waterlogged archaeological wood
Kalman Filter-Based Super-Twisting Sliding Mode Control of Shunt Active Power Filter for Electric Vehicle Charging Station Applications
Get PDFElectric vehicle (EV) charging stations draw nonlinear currents, which makes the distribution network unbalanced, distorted, and results in power quality (PQ) issues. These PQ issues are mitigated in this work through high-performance control of the shunt active power filter (SAPF). In the proposed method, a linear Kalman filter (LKF) has been applied to grid voltage and load current signals for harmonic and disturbance robust estimation purpose. Unlike the conventionally used orthogonal vector model, in this work, phase angle vector model together with a simple to tune phase-locked loop (PLL) has been considered for the LKF implementation. DC-link voltage regulation and charging of the DC-link capacitor has been obtained by proposing a Luenberger observer-based super twisting sliding mode control (ST-SMC), which has fast dynamic response and lower voltage ripples compared to similar other existing control methods. This results in significant reduction in size, cost and loss together with lifetime enhancement of the DC-link capacitor. Rigorous sensitivity analysis is conducted to analyze the robustness of the developed method. The proposed control technique achieves fast response time and satisfy the harmonic requirements as specified in the IEEE Std. 519 under various grid and load disturbances. Comparative quasi-real time validation results are presented by using digital signal processor (DSP) based processor-in-the-loop (PIL) with another recently proposed control strategy to verify the performance enhancement by the developed method
X chromosomes show relaxed selection and complete somatic dosage compensation across Timema stick insect species
Get PDFSex chromosomes have evolved repeatedly across the tree of life. As they are pre-sent in different copy numbers in males and females, they are expected to experi-ence different selection pressures than the autosomes, with consequences including a faster rate of evolution, increased accumulation of sexually antagonistic alleles and the evolution of dosage compensation. Whether these consequences are general or linked to idiosyncrasies of specific taxa is not clear as relatively few taxa have been studied thus far. Here, we use whole-genome sequencing to identify and characterize the evolution of the X chromosome in five species of Timema stick insects with XX:X0 sex determination. The X chromosome had a similar size (approximately 12% of the genome) and gene content across all five species, suggesting that the X chromosome originated prior to the diversification of the genus. Genes on the X showed evidence of relaxed selection (elevated dN/dS) and a slower evolutionary rate (dN + dS) than genes on the autosomes, likely due to sex- biased mutation rates. Genes on the X also showed almost complete dosage compensation in somatic tissues (heads and legs), but dosage compensation was absent in the reproductive tracts. Contrary to predic-tion, sex- biased genes showed little enrichment on the X, suggesting that the advan-tage X- linkage provides to the accumulation of sexually antagonistic alleles is weak. Overall, we found the consequences of X- linkage on gene sequences and expression to be similar across Timema species, showing the characteristics of the X chromosome are surprisingly consistent over 30 million years of evolution.KEYWORDSinsects, population genetics, sex chromosomes, sexual selection & conflict
Polish Ordynacje and the English Common Law Entail and Strict Settlement: Social, Political and Religious Comparative Contexts
Get PDFAbstract: Entailing landed property was a common feature of European property law in the late medieval and early modern periods, and beyond. Entails were far more common in some European states than in others. The article undertakes comparative research into different forms of entailed property between Poland (where entails were not common) and England and Wales (where entails were common). There is also comparative analysis with the later English common law strict settlement which had the entail at its core. The features which will be compared are who created such settlements; why they were created; the different methods of creation; the attitude of the state/royal government; who benefitted under such settlements; inalienability of land; and perpetuit
Hand choice is unaffected by high frequency continuous theta burst transcranial magnetic stimulation to the posterior parietal cortex
Get PDFThe current study used a high frequency TMS protocol known as continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) to test a model of hand choice that relies on competing interactions between the hemispheres of the posterior parietal cortex. Based on the assumption that cTBS reduces cortical excitability, the model predicts a significant decrease in the likelihood of selecting the hand contralateral to stimulation. An established behavioural paradigm was used to estimate hand choice in each individual, and these measures were compared across three stimulation conditions: cTBS to the left posterior parietal cortex, cTBS to the right posterior parietal cortex, or sham cTBS. Our results provide no supporting evidence for the interhemispheric competition model. We find no effects of cTBS on hand choice, independent of whether the left or right posterior parietal cortex was stimulated. Our results are nonetheless of value as a point of comparison against prior brain stimulation findings that, in contrast, provide evidence for a causal role for the posterior parietal cortex in hand choice.</p
Analysis of content and online public responses to media articles that raise awareness of the opt-out system of consent to organ donation in England
Get PDFPreceded by a national media campaign, in May 2020, England switched to a soft opt-out system of organ donation which rests on the assumption that individuals meeting specific criteria have consented to organ donation unless they have expressed otherwise. We aimed to learn more about how the changes were communicated, how people responded and any discrepancies between key messages and how they were interpreted by the public. Summative content analysis of 286 stories and related reader-generated comments in leading UK online news sources (April 2019 to May 2021). Further detailed thematic analysis of 21 articles with reader-generated content, complemented by thematic content analysis coding of all 286 stories. Most media coverage on both organ donation and the law change was positive, with little variation over time or between publications. The importance of organ donation, benefits of the law change, and emotive stories (often involving children) of those who had donated an organ described as "superheroes" or those who had received organs as benefiting from a "miracle" were frequently cited. In contrast, reader-generated comments were markedly more negative, for example, focusing on loss of individual freedom and lack of trust in the organ donation system. Commentators wished to be able to choose who their organs were donated to, were dismissive and blaming towards minority ethnic groups, including undermining legitimate worries about the compatibility of organ donation with religious beliefs and end of life cultural norms, understanding and acceptance of brain-stem death and systemic racism. Misinformation including use of inflammatory language was common. The portrayal of donors and recipients as extraordinary is unlikely to help to normalise organ donation. Undermining legitimate concerns, in particular those from ethnic minorities, can alienate and encourage harmful misinformation in underrepresented groups. The discrepancies between the tone of the articles and the readers comments suggests a lack of trust across the public, health, policy and media outlets. Easily accessible, ongoing and tailored sources are needed to mitigate misinformation and disinformation and ensure key messages are better understood and accepted in order to realise the ambitions of soft opt-out organ donation policies. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2022 Faherty, Williams, Noyes, Mc Laughlin, Bostock and Mays.
The Irie Classroom Toolbox: Mixed method assessment to inform future implementation and scale up of an early childhood, teacher-training, violence prevention programme
Get PDFIntroductionViolence against children (VAC) is a violation of child rights, has high prevalence in low- and middle-income countries, is associated with long-term negative effects on child functioning, and with high economic and social costs. Ending VAC at home and at school is thus a global public health priority. MethodsIn Jamaica, we evaluated an early childhood, teacher-training, violence-prevention programme, (the Irie Classroom Toolbox), in a cluster-randomised trial in 76 preschools. The programme led to large reductions to teachers’ use of VAC, although the majority of teachers continued to use VAC at times. In this paper, we describe a mixed-method evaluation of the Irie Classroom Toolbox in the 38 Jamaican preschools that were assigned to the wait-list control group of the trial. In a quantitative evaluation, 108 preschool teachers in 38 preschools were evaluated at pre-test and 91 teachers from 37 preschools were evaluated at post-test. One preschool teacher from each of these 37 preschools were randomly selected to participate in an in-depth interview as part of the qualitative evaluation. ResultsPreschool teachers were observed to use 83% fewer instances of VAC across one school day after participating in the programme, although 68% were observed to use VAC at least once across two days. The qualitative evaluation confirmed these findings with all teachers reporting reduced use of violence, but 70% reporting continued use of VAC at times. Teachers reported that the behaviour change techniques used to deliver the intervention increased their motivation, knowledge and skills which in turn led to improved child behaviour, improved relationships and improved professional well-being. Direct pathways to reduced use of VAC by teachers were through improved child behaviour and teacher well-being. The main reasons for continued use of VAC were due to barriers teachers faced using positive discipline techniques, teachers’ negative affect, and child behaviours that teachers perceived to be severe. DiscussionWe describe how we used the results from the mixed-method evaluation to inform revisions to the programme to further reduce teachers’ use of VAC and to inform the processes of training, supervision and ongoing monitoring as the programme is scaled-up through government services.<br/
The effect of swidden agriculture on ant communities in Madagascar.
Get PDFSwidden agriculture is a widespread subsistence farming method in the tropics, which is being intensified as human populations grow. This study is the first to investigate the impacts of land degradation from swidden upon ant species (both native and introduced) across the full degradation gradient, from forest, to tree fallows, to shrub fallows, to exhausted land. Ant communities in closed canopy forests had higher species diversity and were taxonomically distinct, but as land became increasingly degraded, a significant reduction in overall and native species richness was detected, as were changes in overall community composition. Whilst native species decreased across the degradation gradient, introduced species increased. There was also a significant correlation in community compositional changes between native and introduced species which was independent from environmental factors. Co-occurrence analysis, however, suggested there was little evidence that introduced species were significantly impacting the communities of native species. This suggests these patterns are both separately driven by habitat degradation. Degraded fallow habitats were found to harbour unique and endemic species, including 22.4% of the species found in closed canopy forest. Together, our results highlight the potentially detrimental effects of further spread and increased intensification of swidden systems in tropical ecosystems. The conservation of existing closed canopy forests is of utmost importance but we also highlight that the fauna of degraded swidden habitats could still be important for biodiversity conservation in agricultural landscapes across the tropics